The use of rock crevices as shelter by an arboreal, forest-living mammal
This is dataset used in analysis of the article:
The use of rock crevices as shelter by an arboreal, forest-living mammal
Data includes tree hyrax (Dendrohyrax validus) call rate per hour between 19.00-06.00 in different locations of Pare Mountains, Tanzania. Data includes mean DBH, FLII, steepness of the slope, elevation, singing, distance to the road, distance to the house and average slope.
Abstract: Extensive forest exploitation decreases ecosystem integrity and forces species to adapt to often fast and persistent changes in their habitats. Understanding how species adapt is important, as it may offer new solutions and views for conservation. We used Forest Landscape Integrity Index (FLII) (Grantham et al.,, 2020), steepness of the slope, and diameter breast height (DBH) as variables to analyse eastern tree hyrax (Dendrohyrax validus) habitat characteristics and adaptation to human disturbance in Pare Mountains, Tanzania. With more than 2000 years of human settlement, species in Pare Mountain range have a long history of adaptation to anthropogenic disturbance. The nocturnal and acoustically highly active tree hyrax has not been studied in the Pare Mountains before. We collected data with bioacoustical methods, calculating the call rate per hour in six different mountains from Pare and 18 study sites across North and South Pare. Statistical analysis, supported by field observations, show that tree hyraxes in Pare Mountains mostly inhabit steep rocky outcrops where they use crevices as shelter. Steepness of the slope increases calling rate of tree hyraxes. While DBH and FLII were not statistically significant, wider DBH and higher FLII align with higher calling rate. Tree hyraxes inhabit a range of vegetation types, from natural forest to dry bushlands with only small bushes. Singing is significantly more common on steeper slopes. We conclude that as tree hyraxes among many other species use crevices and cavities for shelter, hideout, and thermal regulation purposes, including geodiversity into conservation and forest management strategies is important.